No ball baskets on Public Courts?

Where I live, there is a certain Tennis Dad who enjoys giving tennis lessons and organizing tennis socials for kids not only in the school his son is enrolled at, but at all schools. Now one day, after holding a free tennis lesson for some JV kids, he was approached by the town pro (This pro was sanctioned as the only pro allowed to teach FOR MONEY on public courts in the city). The pro told him this:
NO more bringing a ball basket to teach kids on ANY public court
NO more tennis socials organized

Is this legal? I see this as a way to monopolize the kids into being taught by him. He has already gotten rid of every other Pro in town somehow, including most of the country club ones.

Where I live, there is a certain Tennis Dad who enjoys giving tennis lessons and organizing tennis socials for kids not only in the school his son is enrolled at, but at all schools. Now one day, after holding a free tennis lesson for some JV kids, he was approached by the town pro (This pro was sanctioned as the only pro allowed to teach FOR MONEY on public courts in the city). The pro told him this:
NO more bringing a ball basket to teach kids on ANY public court
NO more tennis socials organized

Is this legal? I see this as a way to monopolize the kids into being taught by him. He has already gotten rid of every other Pro in town somehow, including most of the country club ones.

School courts may be controlled by the Dept. of Ed and the rest of the public courts may be controlled by the City. Both entities are usually afraid of lawsuits and the pro probably has insurance. So this parent needs to talk to these entities and obtain permits and insurance if necessary. In any case the pro cannot tell anyone what they can or cannot do but if he is in alliance with the city they may send police to check the permit.

School courts may be controlled by the Dept. of Ed and the rest of the public courts may be controlled by the City. Both entities are usually afraid of lawsuits and the pro probably has insurance. So this parent needs to talk to these entities and obtain permits and insurance if necessary. In any case the pro cannot tell anyone what they can or cannot do but if he is in alliance with the city they may send police to check the permit.

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Yup, in our city signs are on every city owned court that say no lessons without a permit.

If he is giving lessons for free, it should be no problem. If he is charging for them, then it is considered "commercial" and he would probably need a permit to do it on a public court. The pro can't tell him not to do it, but could report it if he is charging for the lessons.

I give my own kids lessons on public courts with baskets, props, targets, etc along with other kids sometimes. I don't charge for it, though, I just like my kids to have the company and training partners.

permits....... wow! I have never heard of such. I also heard that up north in some places you have to pay by the hour to play tennis. Down here in the south we play membership to our club and it is unlimited play. Then my neighborhood has two locked courts that we can use anytime as well.

The town pro sounds like, let me use the technical term, a tool. Have the "pro" call the cops, I'm sure they'd love to have their time wasted tending to the grievous matter of a dad giving free lessons.

If the pro has the court reserved then whoever is on there should vacate but otherwise, only jobsworths enforce every little rule.

So what's the rule on a ball basket if you're teaching yourself how to serve?

The town pro sounds like, let me use the technical term, a tool. Have the "pro" call the cops, I'm sure they'd love to have their time wasted tending to the grievous matter of a dad giving free lessons.

If the pro has the court reserved then whoever is on there should vacate but otherwise, only jobsworths enforce every little rule.

So what's the rule on a ball basket if your teaching yourself how to serve?

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Well around here the "town pro" has called cops on those teaching lessons on the public courts. In NorCal seems like there are many who want to "lock Down" the public courts with the city, and the high school courts are also part of the city in most areas. I always suspect they don't want anyone teaching, because if the same as here, they don't want parents seeing a good lesson from someone else, and think wow that is much better than your city program.

Well around here the "town pro" has called cops on those teaching lessons on the public courts. In NorCal seems like there are many who want to "lock Down" the public courts with the city, and the high school courts are also part of the city in most areas. I always suspect they don't want anyone teaching, because if the same as here, they don't want parents seeing a good lesson from someone else, and think wow that is much better than your city program.

Well around here the "town pro" has called cops on those teaching lessons on the public courts. In NorCal seems like there are many who want to "lock Down" the public courts with the city, and the high school courts are also part of the city in most areas. I always suspect they don't want anyone teaching, because if the same as here, they don't want parents seeing a good lesson from someone else, and think wow that is much better than your city program.

Because of the economic times, many cities are looking for any form of revenue they can find, collecting fees from teaching pros are just one of the ways.

I know of quite a few teaching pros who make their living on the public courts, let's respect their trade and not bash them for trying to make a living.

I'm sure they don't mind you working out your own kid, but to teach/workout other than your own is not right.

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I understand for 4+ people, but a dad and a kid and only two of his friends is not worth being barred from the courts in my eyes. Also note that this pro only teaches on one of the 5 facilities in the city, and we get in trouble even if we go to any of the other four public ones.

I understand for 4+ people, but a dad and a kid and only two of his friends is not worth being barred from the courts in my eyes. Also note that this pro only teaches on one of the 5 facilities in the city, and we get in trouble even if we go to any of the other four public ones.

Because of the economic times, many cities are looking for any form of revenue they can find, collecting fees from teaching pros are just one of the ways.

I know of quite a few teaching pros who make their living on the public courts, let's respect their trade and not bash them for trying to make a living.

I'm sure they don't mind you working out your own kid, but to teach/workout other than your own is not right.

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True, but I offered to pay the city for usage, $10-15 an hour and provide full insurance. the city has over 20 courts at multiple locations, I could easily bring them extra $1,500 to $2,500 a month, but no go.

Set up a meeting with your city commissioner/supervisor and explain the situation. If he/she doesn't give you the answers you are looking for, then let them know that you are going to the local newspaper about it. Before leaving, ask them for the name, address and phone number of their legal representation(lawyer). This lets them know that you are not kidding around. The last thing that ANY elected official wants is bad press that shows that they don't care about kids learning for free on courts that were paid for by the taxpayers that they are representing.

The next thing that you can do is go to the town meetings. In our city they are recorded and played on public tv. It is always funny to watch them squirm when people bring up things like this. Mainly because they know that it is mostly watched by the elderly. Those are the same group of people that talk the most and vote the most.......

A pro cannot kick you off a public court unless he has a written agreement with the city for that court at that specific time. In the summer our courts have the schedules posted that the pros rent and they cannot teach on the courts except during those posted times.

great post. Chances are that the use of the public courts is not even on the mind of the elected officials. make enough noise and the rules will get changed. Like you stated make them look uncaring. It is counter intuitive to not allow father/kids use of the courts so the pro can monopolize instruction.

Being persistent and polite to the officials in charge and keep going up the chain if need be to get what you want.

Set up a meeting with your city commissioner/supervisor and explain the situation. If he/she doesn't give you the answers you are looking for, then let them know that you are going to the local newspaper about it. Before leaving, ask them for the name, address and phone number of their legal representation(lawyer). This lets them know that you are not kidding around. The last thing that ANY elected official wants is bad press that shows that they don't care about kids learning for free on courts that were paid for by the taxpayers that they are representing.

The next thing that you can do is go to the town meetings. In our city they are recorded and played on public tv. It is always funny to watch them squirm when people bring up things like this. Mainly because they know that it is mostly watched by the elderly. Those are the same group of people that talk the most and vote the most.......

A pro cannot kick you off a public court unless he has a written agreement with the city for that court at that specific time. In the summer our courts have the schedules posted that the pros rent and they cannot teach on the courts except during those posted times.

Wow, this discussion doesn't bode well for the popularity of tennis in America. Imagine talking out this issue with public basketball courts. The simple answer should really be commercial v non-commercial use. If you charge money - get a permit, if not - you're part of the public using the public court.

Where I live, there is a certain Tennis Dad who enjoys giving tennis lessons and organizing tennis socials for kids not only in the school his son is enrolled at, but at all schools. Now one day, after holding a free tennis lesson for some JV kids, he was approached by the town pro (This pro was sanctioned as the only pro allowed to teach FOR MONEY on public courts in the city). The pro told him this:
NO more bringing a ball basket to teach kids on ANY public court
NO more tennis socials organized

Is this legal? I see this as a way to monopolize the kids into being taught by him. He has already gotten rid of every other Pro in town somehow, including most of the country club ones.

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May be "the pro" is gay and has no kids.
Or may be his students are not winning any matches.